"Naru, tea," Mai called softly as she nudged his door open. Naru glanced up from his work, eyeing her almost dismissively as she padded quietly to his desk and set the steaming cup down with a gentle tap. He couldn't help squirming in his seat. He was a little more agitated than usual. He was tapping his foot and spinning his pen restlessly. Mai paused, wondering if she should ask him about it. Though, normally asking doesn't go so well for me...She felt sheepish as she recalled all the times he'd snapped at her for prying.

"What is it?" Naru asked almost curtly as his hand reached out to raise the cup to his lips. His eyes fluttered momentarily as he breathed in the comforting scent. Mai watched his movements, still marvelling at how elegant he was. She'd never seen anyone who could look so precise and picturesque just doing something as simple as sipping a cup of tea. She tried not to blush as he met her eyes, knowing he was waiting for an answer.

"Just...you seem a little unsettled." She watched with her usual concerned head tilt as Naru suppressed a sigh. She could tell by the way his head lowered a fraction, and his eyes closed for a couple of beats. There was also a slight pinch at the corner of his eyes. He hated it when she caught him out. He wasn't used to being read so easily, at least, not by anyone besides Lin. Lin had practically raised him, so he had that leeway. He'd learned from years of experience. But how did Mai get so attuned to my moods?

"It's nothing...My heat's a little late is all," he replied stiffly, rolling his head slowly to ease the tightness in his neck. He truly hated it when his cycle was messed up. His body was preparing for the heat, but it should have started two days ago now. He was stuck with all the negative side effects. Sore muscles. Fatigue. Headaches. Cramps. A shorter temper. Mai's honey eyes widen in shock. He tilted his head questioningly as her cheeks reddened. If anything, she looked upset. Naru had the feeling there'd been a miscommunication somewhere along the line. He sipped his tea, allowing his eyes to close for a moment as he enjoyed the comforting taste. Mai's tea...

"Do you need to see a doctor? Have you been taking your birth control? I didn't realise you..." She trailed off awkwardly, delicate fingers gripping the empty tray to her thighs. Naru was stunned. His blue eyes widened at the sudden awkwardness in the air. He could sense unrest and hurt rolling off her in waves. He quirked an eyebrow in confusion as he tilted his head ever so slightly. Birth control? Don't tell me she thinks...His expression softened a little, amusement tugging his lips faintly before he raised his cup to hide it.

"Don't jump to conclusions. I can assure you, that isn't the issue," he replied in his usual cold monotone, though he knew she could feel his quiet amusement at being able to tease her. He also felt the waves of relief she was giving off at the news. He was almost troubled by it. Much as he liked Mai, much as he may even want her in that way, it wasn't appropriate or practical. It wouldn't be fair to her. "My heats are sometimes unpredictable," he added dismissively, though until John presented as an omega he'd managed to work out his current cycles. They'd changed a few times for various reasons. First, he'd been stressed without his twin close by. Then, his twin had died and the resulting emotional shock had thrown him off. Then, he'd moved countries, so the change of time zones, eating, and living habits had changed it. After that, he'd met Takigawa and their cycles had somewhat synchronised. John's heats had now thrown off his cycle again as he adjusted to yet another omega presence in his life.

"Uh...is there anything I can get for you?" Mai wondered if some painkillers were required. When he got closer to his heat, he'd usually get really short tempered with the cramps and headaches. Before she'd found out he was an omega, she'd just thought he was short-tempered in general. It made a lot more sense now that she'd tracked his moods along with his cycles. At the moment, he seemed perfectly fine, if a little stressed. Either he was already taking painkillers or his cycle wasn't anywhere near ready to start.

"The tea will do for now." Naru tried not to let the warmth show on his face as he sipped his tea. He'd never tell her, but somehow he thought she knew. He cradled the cup a little closer. It was almost like she put a piece of her heart in the cup whenever she made it, and just let him drink it down. She's foolish like that...

"Just call through when you need another one then," she added kindly as she made to step back. Naru nodded, his body going stiff as his anxiety spiked. His omega didn't feel ready to be alone just yet. It liked the freshness of Mai's citrus scent. It was comforting and settled his nerves. The closer she got to the door, the more his chest tightened with the plea for her not to leave. She already had her hand on the handle by the time he thought of a way to make her stop.

"Ah, John seemed a little upset earlier...Did something happen?" He didn't want to disturb Lin to ask. He knew it wasn't fair, but part of him had started to compare John to Gene. He couldn't help feeling worried about him because of it. People with pure hearts and innocent souls were hard to come by. He'd been fond of John even before the change. He'd always been a comforting presence with undertones of wisdom beyond his years.

"I don't know, Lin didn't say," Mai replied as she paused in the doorway. She could scent Naru's unrest. She wasn't even sure if he knew he was doing it, but she could almost feel little tendrils of scent curling around her, begging her to stay. Silence hung between them a few moments longer before Naru gave her a stiff nod of permission to return to her desk. She left Naru sipping his tea quietly. He closed his eyes as he leaned his head back, thinking about his twin. Gene...He could hardly believe how many months had gone by, and sometimes he still felt raw. Not always, but sometimes. Mostly, he just felt a dull weight in his chest whenever his thoughts shifted to his brother. If he remembered something particularly vivid, then the pain felt far sharper. One of those times was the first time Mai had called him Naru. It was so similar to the way Gene had pronounced Noll in a teasing Japanese accent.

In their later years, the name had been a joke. A fond nickname. When they'd first been adopted by the Davies, a British couple, they'd been given English names. Eugene and Oliver. Gene hadn't been able to pronounce Oliver properly at first. At two or three years old, the name Oli had come out as Noll, or more precisely, Noru with their accents. Naru hadn't liked it at first, but on the day Gene had finally called him Oli, he'd felt almost hurt. Gene had noticed and switched back to Noll without a word. The name had also stuck with Lin, but when Gene died, he'd stopped saying it. He would call him Oliver, or Kazuya, once they arrived in Japan. He'd only started called him Naru because of Mai. I guess Mai's been helping us heal a little. He leaned back in his chair and swivelled to face the window. It was a clear day.

He couldn't help but think how lonely it was getting. Since losing Gene, he'd clung to Lin so much that, now Lin was mated, he didn't know what to do with himself. Lin needed and deserved to explore his budding relationship with John. Naru had always known he wouldn't be able to cling to Lin and the memory of his brother forever, but he didn't feel ready to let go just yet. If I were an easier person to get along with, I'd probably have a lot more friends...I'm sure Gene had many friends here. He smiled fondly as he gazed at the sky. He couldn't imagine Gene being a lonely, withdrawn wallflower.

He sighed softly as he closed his eyes. It wasn't that he didn't consider Mai and the others to be his friends, but he wasn't close to them. Mai worked with him every day, put up with his bad moods, brought him tea, and sorted his files, but they didn't see each other outside of that. The other members of SPR only turned up to work on cases or to see Mai. He used to go out with Masako when she'd more or less forced him to, but that was more due to obligation than a genuine desire to meet her. He assumed she had gotten the same feeling, since she'd gradually stopped asking. Maybe my heat is closer than I thought. I'm never normally this broody...He sighed as he leaned his head back and pinched the bridge of his nose.

He turned suddenly, startled as his door clicked and slowly opened to reveal Mai. He said nothing as she stepped inside and closed the door, tea and files in hand. She never normally came in without knocking. She also rarely turned up without a solid, work related reason. She didn't say a word as she made her way to the sofa and sat down. Naru's cheeks flushed slightly as he thought of all the things he'd done to himself on that sofa. It seemed strange to have anyone sitting on it, especially Mai. She didn't say a word. She simply opened one of the files on her knee and started reading with her pen at the ready.

He was about to speak, but somehow thought better of it, especially as her scent began to tease his senses. She was offering him comfort. Her presence slowly eased his sense of isolation and soothed his anxiety. He felt his heart strings tug at the gesture, looking down at his own papers as a distraction. His omega side purred at the affectionate attention. It was feeling quite needy after months of neglect and heartache. He was craving physical contact in a way he never had before, but he pushed the feelings aside. Those weren't appropriate thoughts for a male omega and a female beta.